The Zeppelin Times 4CRB Travel Show Saturday 11 August, 10am on 89.3FM Big upgrades tipped as IHG takes over Hayman Island Hotel group IHG is taking over refurbishments and renewal will take management of Queensland luxury icon place over the coming years” at the Hayman Island and will rebrand it as InterContinental Sydney, to “see the Hayman Island, by InterContinental. hotel elevated to even higher levels of luxury and sophistication”. Event spaces A major upgrade and makeover is in will be added, including a grand ballroom the wind. Some reports say AUD 100 to show off the Sydney Harbour Bridge million will be spent, though IHG has not and Opera House panoramas. named a figure. Luxury homes will also be sold on Hayman Island too, it seems, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove on and other Australian InterContinental Queensland’s Gold Coast “will enjoy a properties are in line for significant refurbishment that will see it continue refurbishment. its legacy as one of Queensland’s most prestigious hotels”, the statement said. “Hayman Island, by InterContinental will be an oasis at the northernmost point IHG’s managing director, Australasia in the Whitsunday Islands that shows and Japan, Leanne Harwood, said: off the best of the InterContinental “Luxury travellers have long had an brand when it opens in 2019, following affinity with InterContinental Sydney and significant investment to refurbish the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, product,” a statement said. so we are thrilled to continue their legacy for many years to come. What is “The 166-room hotel is the only property particularly special is to now welcome on the 400-hectare island and will Hayman Island to the IHG family. We showcase world-class facilities, rooms could not be more delighted to continue, and suites in one of the world’s most and strengthen, our partnership with unique locations, accessible via Hamilton Mulpha Australia as we pursue our Island and then by either luxury vessel or expansion plans in Australasia.” helicopter. Mulpha Australia Limited chief executive “In addition to the hotel, Mulpha Greg Shaw added: “We are delighted Australia Limited will offer a bespoke to continue our successful partnership collection of homes for sale to those with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts who want to own a piece of heaven on and look forward to an exciting period Hayman Island. of investment to reinforce our leading position in the Australian luxury hotel “The landmark agreement with Mulpha market.” Australia Limited also sees IHG continue with a long-term agreement to manage Hayman Island has been synonymous both InterContinental Sydney and with Australian tropical island holiday InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.” luxury ever since Royal Hayman Hotel opened there in 1950. Hayman closed in March 2017 after being severely clobbered by Cyclone IHG currently has 47 hotels operating Debbie. In June last year, Mulpha and under four brands across Australasia: One and Only ended their agreement to InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday brand and manage Hayman. Inn and Holiday Inn Express with a further 19 in the pipeline including Hotel Money will also be spent on the Indigo and EVEN Hotels. InterContinental Sydney (the first major upgrade since opening) and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove. “A significant investment into The Professional Centre, Suite 1, 189 Ashmore Road, Benowa, Gold Coast QLD 4217 Phone: (07) 555 79 888 | Free Call: 1300 786 888 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.zt.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/zeppelintravel The Zeppelin Times 4CRB Travel Show Saturday 11 August, 10am on 89.3FM First images emerge of Virgin’s adults-only ship Scarlet Lady, the first ship of Virgin Voyages are emerging. the drydock in preparation for the ship’s (the Virgin group’s seagoing arm, a joint “jumboization” – enlarging the ship by venture with Bain Capital) looks very Virgin Voyages says the Scarlet Lady logo is adding an entire section. This process is a different from most cruise ships. a variation on the Virgin Atlantic and Virgin long and complex endeavour which marks Australia logos, “but this time she reappears an important milestone in the build-out of It will carry 2700 passengers, all aged over as a mystical Mermaid – the soul and spirit our Scarlet Lady. 18, and will focus on “adult play” – featuring behind the first Virgin Voyages ship”. everything from a boxing ring to “spin yoga” “Looking ahead to our continued growth, (a combination of yoga and indoor cycling) “Though beautiful and mysterious in vision, this shipyard celebration is to be topped and gaming for adults. she represents a woman of power – the off with the initial cutting of steel on our leader not only on our first voyage, but second vessel, due for delivery in 2021. The ship is due to begin sailing to the also in our efforts to encourage front-facing A maritime tradition, the Steel Cutting Caribbean from PortMiami in 2020, with a female leaders throughout our company Ceremony carves out the first pieces of steel second ship due for delivery in 2021. with our Virgin Voyages Scarlet Squad that will one day adorn the hull of the ship.” Program.” Artist’s impressions and computer-graphic The Miami Herald reports that the ship representations of how the ship will look Virgin says it will shortly be “flooding will include a “Crow’s Nest”, a secluded sundeck with 360-degree views for sunrise and sunset yoga classes, and The Runway, a Virgin-red running track. Both areas will be connected to The Athletic Club, an “adult-play” area at the top of the vessel. It’s built around a red-and-white semicircular lounger, “the largest daybed at sea”. The Professional Centre, Suite 1, 189 Ashmore Road, Benowa, Gold Coast QLD 4217 Phone: (07) 555 79 888 | Free Call: 1300 786 888 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.zt.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/zeppelintravel The Zeppelin Times 4CRB Travel Show Saturday 11 August, 10am on 89.3FM Kangaroo Island Spirits looks to Port Adelaide to bolster gin business Craft distillery Kangaroo Island Spirits is setting “It is really going to help in times like we’ve one per cent of spirits consumed in Australia up a warehouse in Port Adelaide to provide got at the moment when the ferry doesn’t are produced here. a mainland base for its expanding operations run for a number of days (because of bad and to offer master classes to cater for a weather) and we can’t get things off the Sarah says the Kangaroo Island distillery and seemingly insatiable thirst for boutique gin. island,” Sarah says. the market still has plenty of room to grow. While a shopfront isn’t in the immediate “So this is going to be a nice place for us to “We are doing three still runs a week at the plans, KIS director Sarah Lark says it might not also store our stuff and work from in Adelaide moment so we could do a couple more and be too far off. but we can also offer master classes and if the demand is there we could get it going training to people wanting to get to know our 24-hours,” she says. “We’re definitely talking about that and I think products better.” there’s real potential for not just us but for “There is definitely room for growth in the the whole Kangaroo Island produce set up like The distillery will set up the warehouse in the market too but there is also education needed there is in the Central Market to occur in Port coming weeks and hopes to begin using it for for people to look at what it is that they are Adelaide,” she says. classes in October or November. drinking and look at where it comes from and not just go for the international brands. “I stayed in Port Adelaide for a week recently Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third largest and I really didn’t realise how much it had offshore island, is about 150km southwest of “Within the city area of Adelaide and in changed there – parts of it are really starting Adelaide and is a tourism icon known for its some suburban pockets people are starting to take off and there’s a very good feel about natural beauty and wildlife. to realise what they are drinking but there’s the place.” definitely an opportunity to grow people’s The Cygnet River distillery has ramped up appreciation of what’s made locally.” The revitalisation of Port Adelaide has been production in the past 12 months since talked about for two decades but it has only installing a new 300-litre still at the beginning Zeppelin Travel Presents... been in the past year or two that it has started of last year. It also uses its original 80-litre to materialise through projects such as the copper pot still for specialty batches. Hart’s Mill transformation and the Woolstores precinct upgrade, where Pirate Life is building While its Wild Gin, which uses locally sourced its new brewery, bar and beer garden. boobialla or native juniper, is easily its biggest seller, the distillery’s Old Tom Gin stole the KIS is already sold in more than 200 bars and limelight this week when it was awarded a Packages Include: • A Reserve Seating bottleshops across Australia and is looking to Gold Medal at the coveted 2018 International • Luxury coach Benowa to QPAC & return • Glass of sparkling wine or orange juice increase its presence on the eastern seaboard Wine & Spirits Competition in London. & nibbles on departure through its new Sydney-based distributor Nip of Courage. Wild Gin was awarded an Outstanding Silver medal and the KIS Whisky Barrel Gin was Its gins boast a distinctly Australian flavour awarded Bronze.